Lavandula plant named ‘Dolavladietel’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plant named ‘Dolavladietel’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; dark violet-colored flowers positioned on strong peduncles; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lavandula angustifolia.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOLAVLADIETEL’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orApplicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior artexception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior tothe filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filingdate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Lavandula plant,botanically known as Lavandula angustifolia, commonly referred to asLavender and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dolavladietel’.

The new Lavandula plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new unique Lavandula plants withlong flowering period and attractive plant form and flower coloration.

The new Lavandula plant originated from an open-pollination in April,2016 of a proprietary selection of Lavandula angustifolia identified ascode number LV-0117, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent withan unknown selection of Lavandula angustifolia as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Lavandula plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedopen-pollination in a controlled environment in Aalsmeer, TheNetherlands in April, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lavandula plant by terminal cuttings ina controlled greenhouse environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands sinceJune, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Lavandulaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lavandula have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of the new Lavandula plant. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dolavladietel’ as a new anddistinct Lavandula plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright to outwardly spreading and        uniformly mounded plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Dark violet-colored flowers positioned on strong peduncles.    -   6. Good container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact than and not as        tall as plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula flower earlier than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula have smaller flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Lavandula can be compared to plants of the Lavandulaangustifolia ‘Essence Purple’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of‘Essence Purple’ in plant size as plants of the new Lavandula are morecompact than and not as tall as plants of ‘Essence Purple’. In addition,plants of the new Lavandula flower earlier than plants of ‘EssencePurple’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Lavandula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Lavandula plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘Dolavladietel’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in 17-cm containers in Aalsmeer, TheNetherlands during the summer initially in a glass-covered greenhouseand finished in an outdoor nursery and under conditions and culturalpractices which approximate those generally used in commercial Lavandulaplant production. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesaveraged 21° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were 26weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, Second Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Measurementsrepresent averages for typical flowering plants.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Dolavladietel’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lavandula            angustifolia identified as code number LV-0117, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Lavandula            angustifolia, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at            temperatures about 26° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at            temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 24 days            at temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white to light yellow in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; good            performance as a container and as a garden plant; relatively            compact, upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly            mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth            rate; flowers arranged in verticillasters on crowded spikes.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 30            cm.        -   Plant width.—About 48 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity per plant: Freely            branching with about 18 primary lateral branches each with            about three secondary lateral branches developing per plant.            Length: About 32 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length:            About 1.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 70°            from vertical. Texture and luster: Pubescent; glossy;            becoming woody and glabrous with development. Color, when            developing: Close to 145A. Color, developed: Close to 144B;            when becoming woody, close to 199A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite and decussate,            simple; sessile. Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 5 mm.            Shape: Linear to lanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Pubescent; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Pubescent; matte. Fragrance: Strongly aromatic, pungent.            Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing and fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,            close to 137A. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 137C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Single bilabiate flowers            arranged in compact verticillasters on crowded terminal            spikes; freely flowering, about 33 flowers per inflorescence            and about 6,138 flowers developing per plant; flowers with            two-lobed upper lip and three-lobed lower lip; flowers face            mostly outwardly on the spike.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering is continuous from June            to August in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering about            twelve weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Inflorescences last about            three to four weeks on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Strongly fragrant; typical lavender scent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Shape: Elliptic. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte.            Color: Close to 83A.        -   Inflorescence size.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 2            cm.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 6 mm by 7 mm. Depth (height):            About 1 cm. Throat diameter: About 4 mm. Tube length: About            2 mm. Tube diameter: About 2 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Upper lip, two-lobed and            lower lip, three-lobed. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About            2 mm. Shape: Linear; proximally, fused into a tube. Apex:            Obtuse, rounded. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Texture, throat and tube: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 86B;            venation, close to 86B; color does not change with            subsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 86B; venation, close to 86B; color does            not change with subsequent development. Throat: Close to            85A; venation, close to 85A. Tube: Close to 86B; venation,            close to 86B.        -   Basal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Subtending            the flowers is a single basal flower bract. Length: About            5 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Aristate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, fused forming a            tubular calyx. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:            Linear. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,            upper surface: Pubescent; matte. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous; semi- glossy. Color: When opening            and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 86A. When opening            and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Weak. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color:            Close to 155D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.            Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 155D.            Anther shape: Reniform; dorsifixed. Anther size: About 1 mm            by 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 200B. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 23A. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: One. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape:            Capitate. Stigma diameter: About 0.5 mm. Stigma color: Close            to 86A. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to            144D. Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not            been observed on plants of the new Lavandula.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Lavandula    have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Lavandula plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lavandula have exhibited good    tolerance to rain, wind and to tolerate temperatures ranging from    about −34° C. to about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness    Zone 5.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lavandula plant named ‘Dolavladietel’ as illustrated and described. 